title: Examining the relationship between health-related quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury and the mental health of their caregivers in Colombia, South America.
abstract: Although considerable research has been carried out on family caregivers of individuals with various types of disabilities, spinal cord injury (SCI) caregivers have received considerably less attention in terms of research, especially in regions such as Latin America. This study examined the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with SCI and their family caregiver's mental health in Neiva, Colombia. Thirty-four individuals with SCI and their primary caregivers (34 dyads; n=68) from the Foundation for the Integral Development of People with Disabilities in Neiva, Colombia, were included in this study. Individuals with SCI completed eight subscales of the SF-36 that assessed HRQOL. Five aspects of caregiver mental health were assessed, including burden (Zarit Burden Interview), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory). A series of multiple regressions uncovered strong associations among the HRQOL of individuals with SCI and various aspects of caregiver mental health. In these regressions, patient physical functioning and pain were independently related to caregiver burden; patient pain and general health were independently related to caregiver satisfaction with life; and patient pain was independently related to caregiver anxiety. HRQOL in individuals with SCI was robustly related to their caregiver's mental health, suggesting that the two sets of variables are closely linked. These findings suggest that caregiver mental health should be a central part of SCI rehabilitation interventions, especially in Latin America.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia bDepartment of Psychology, Surcolombiana University cDepartment of Psychology, Fundación Universitaria María Cano, Neiva, Colombia, USA dIKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Leia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Silvia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Olivera
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Perdomo
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arango
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult